februarie 08, 2014

tiresome names

'The 1st of May was approaching, and there was talk of a monster demonstration in which both the C.N.T. and the U.G.T. were to take part. The C.N.T. leaders, more moderate than many of their followers, had long been working for a reconciliation with the U.G.T.;
indeed the keynote of their policy was to try and form the two blocks
of unions into one huge coalition. The idea was that the C.N.T. and U.G.T.
should march together and display their solidarity. But at the last
moment the demonstration was called off. It was perfectly clear that it
would only lead to rioting. So nothing happened on 1 May. It was a queer
state of affairs. Barcelona, the so-called revolutionary city, was
probably the only city in non-Fascist Europe that had no celebrations
that day. But I admit I was rather relieved. The I.L.P. contingent was expected to march in the P.O.U.M. section of the procession, and everyone expected trouble...'